Make a public channel private

Any Slack channel — with the exception of your workspace's #general channel — can be converted from public to private. 🔒

When converting a public channel, keep the following in mind:

You must be a member of the channel before you can convert it.

Private channels cannot be converted back to public channels.

Files that were shared in the public channel will not become private. They'll remain accessible to other members of your workspace.

Convert a public channel

From Slack on the desktop app or in a web browser, open the channel you'd like to make private.

Click the gear icon to open the Channel Settings menu.

Select Additional options.

Choose Convert this channel to a private channel. If you don't see this option, ask a Workspace Admin for help!

Click Yes, convert this channel to confirm.

Warning: Use care. This change cannot be undone.

Note: Though you can make a public channel private, there is no option to convert a private channel to public at this time.

Who can convert public channels

Workspace Owners and Admins can convert channels from public to private, but members don't have this option. If Workspace Owners prefer to restrict this option further, they can limit private channel creation to Workspace Owners only from the Settings & Permissions page.

Workspace Owners only: Select the Workspace Owners only preference to restrict private channel creation and public channel conversion to just Team Owners.

Workspace Admins and Owners only: Select any other option to allow Admins to continue to have access to converting public channels (in addition to creating private channels).

Who can use this feature?

Workspace Owners and Workspace Admins can use this feature.

Available on free and paid plans.

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